Newcastle United travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford in the FA Cup third round this weekend, with Steve McClaren promising to field a strong side.

The Magpies have been knocked out of the competition at the first attempt in each of the past three seasons and have won just three FA Cup ties since Mike Ashley bought the club back in 2007.

Steve McClaren though insists he will field a “strong team” to take on the Hornets, despite the Magpies hosting Manchester United in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has suggested that he might make a few changes to his side, so what can we expect from the Hornets?

Here’s out scouting report on Watford:

Form?

In all competitions, Watford’s form over the last six games reads: won, won, won, drew, lost, lost.

The newly-promoted Hornets have been one of the surprise packages of a bizarre Premier League season so far, and have collected an impressive 29 points from 20 games.

Their front two of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney have been in brilliant form and Watford are just 11 shy of that desired 40-point mark for Premier League survival.

Flores insists that he will take the FA Cup seriously and values the competition, though he has suggested changes could be made to his side.

Just how much any tinkering will weaken the Hornets remains to be seen.

Dangermen?

With Flores keeping his cards close to his chest while suggesting players could be rested, there’s a chance these two might not play - but they are Watford’s dangermen:

Troy Deeney – The 27-year-old scored 20 goals or more in each of the past three seasons, and he has six in 20 Premier League games this term. Add in the five assists Deeney has contributed, and this is a striker in form. He has often been deployed in a No 10 role too this season, and has excelled there.

Odion Ighalo – The Nigeria international has been one of the finds of the Premier League season, scoring 14 goals in 20 games. United are understood to have been offered to the chance to sign Ighalo in the past, and the 26-year-old really is in red-hot form - including having netted twice against Newcastle at St James’ Park earlier in the season.

Manager Verdict?

Flores is Watford’s fifth manager in little more than a year-and-a-half – but this chopping and changing seems to be bearing fruit, as the Hornets were promoted last season and are have rapidly settled into life in the top flight.

The 50-year-old Spaniard has managed Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Getafe - among others - in the past and has a 40-per-cent win ratio as Hornets boss.

Renowned for his ability to organise his teams, Flores has certainly done that with the Vicarage Road outfit.

Not only are they defensively solid though, Watford’s front two also offer a real threat.

It will be interesting to see how much Flores opts to tinker his side against United, but the 4-2-3-1 formation he has deployed in recent months is unlikely to change.

Strengths?

Team spirit is one of them. It seems a cliche in some ways, but Watford have shown a togetherness not often present in top-flight sides this season which has seen them propel up the Premier League table and well on their way to safety.

What’s more, as has already been mentioned, the Hornets have been in brilliant form in attack.

However, it is their defensive solidity which really makes Watford tick.

Craig Cathcart has been brilliant in defence, while Ben Watson and Etienne Capoue offer an invaluable shield in front of the back four.

Newcastle struggled to break the Hornets down at St James’ Park back in September, and they will have a tough challenge in that department again this weekend.

Weaknesses?

The number of changes Flores will make is still unknown, but the fact he is considering alterations suggests that Deeney and Ighalo are two of the most likely candidates to be rested.

Given that between them the duo have scored 80 per cent of the Hornet’s league goals, should one or both be left out of the side then Newcastle will receive a lift and will be able to play with greater freedom.

Even if only one is left out, the fact the pair link up so well means United can attack a little more without fearing that Watford will be quite as much of a threat at the other end.